The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-02-10

GnS preceding animal, ana IN q lew moments
they reached the broader trail below without
a nlishap. A discussion regarding their fu-
ture movements was already taking place. The
impossibility of regaining the station at the
Summit was admitted; the way down the
mountain to the next settlement was still left
to them, or the adjacent woods, if they
wished for an encampment. The ostler once
more assumed authority.
"'Skuse me, gentlemen, but them horses
don't take no pasecer down the mountain to-
night. The stage road amt mile off, and
kalkilate to wait here till the up stage comes.
She's bound to stop on account of the snow;
and I've done my dooty when hand the
horses over to the driver"
"But if she hears Of the block up yer, and
waits at the lower stations" said Rawlins
@Then I've done my dooty all the same
'Skuse me- gentlemen, but them ez hez their
own horses kin do ez they like"
As this clearly pointed to Hale, he briefly
assured his companions that he had no inten-
ton Of deserting them. @If cannot reach
Eagles Court l shall at least keep as near it
as possible. suppose any messenger from
my house to the Summit viii learn where
am and why am delayedw
Messenger from your housed" gasped Raw
Inns care you crazy, strangers Only bird
would get outer Eagles now; ard it would
hev to be an eagle at thatl Between your
house and the Summit the snow must be ten
feet by this time, to say nothing Of the drift
in the pass"
Hale felt it was the truth. At any other
time he would have worried over this unex-
pected situation, and in utter violation of all
his traditions. He was past that now, and
even felt certain relief. He knew his fam
lily We're safe; it was enough. That they
were locked up securely, and incapable of in
terfering with him, seemed to enhance his
new, half conscious, half shy enjoyment of
an adventurous existence
The ostler, who had been apparently lost
in contemplation Of the steep trail he had
just descended, suddenly clapped his hand to
his leg with an ejaculation of gratified aston
ishment.
"Waal, darn my skin eff that amt Hennick-
er's slide all the timel heard it was some
what about here"
Rawllns briefly explained to Hale that
slide was a rude incline for the transit of
heavy goods that could not be carried down
trail
"And Hennicker's," continued the man,
saint more nor mile away. Ye-might try
Hennicker's at push. eh!"
By common instinct the whole party
looked obviously at Hale "Who's Hen
nicl1er?" he felt compelled to ask
The ostler hesitated and glanced at the
others to reply. "There are folks" he said
lazily at last, "ez believes that Hennicker
amt much better nor the crowd we're hunt
ing; but they don't say it to Hennicker We
needn't let On what we're after"
II for one," said Hale stoutly, decidedly
object to any concealment Of our purpose"
ut don't follow" said Rawlins carelessly,
@that Hennicker even knows of this yer
robbery. It's his gineral gait we refer to.
Eff yer think it more polite, and it makes it
more sociable to discuss this matter afore
him, I'm agreed.n
"Hale MEANS" said Clinch, "that it
wouldn't be on the square to take and make
agin the road agents."
Certainly" said Hale. It was not at all
what he had meant, but he felt singularly
relieved at the compromise.
tAnd ez I reckon Hennicker amt such a
fool as not to know who we are and what
we're out for" continued Clinch, II reckon
there amt any concealment."
"Then it's Hennickersa" said the ost,er,
with swift deduction.
"Hennicl1er it isl Lead on"
The ostler remounted his horse and the
others followed. The trau presently turned
into broader track, that bore some signs of
approaching habitations and at the end of
Eve minutes they came upon a clearing. It
was part of one of the fragmentary mountain
terraces, and formed by itself vast niche,
or bracketed shelf, in the hollow flank of the
mountain that, to Hales first glance, bore a
rude resemblance to Eagles Court. But
there was neither meadow nor open field; the
few acres of ground had been wrested from
the forest by ak and fire, and unsightly
stumps everywhere marked the rude and diff
fcult attempts at cultivation. Two or three
rough buildings of unplaned and unpainted
boards, connected by rambling sheds, stood
in the center of the ampitheatre, Far from
being protected by the encircling rampant, it
seemed to be the selected arena for the COM
batting elements A whirlwind from the
outer abyss continually filled this cave OF
Aolus with driving snow, which, however,
NJ fa1I r11ioi-lyr yvbirlpC
| sway again.
A few dogs barlked and ran out to meet the
cavalcade, but there was no other sign of
any life disturbed or concerned at their ap-
| proach.
| II reckon Eennicker amt home Or he'd hev
been on the lookout afore this" said the ost-
| Ter, disnounting and rapping at tho door.
After silence female voice, unintelligi-
| bly, to the others, apparently had some colo
| guy with the ostler, who returned to the
| party.
"Must 60 in through the kitchin-can't
! open the door for the wind"
Leaving their horses in the shed, they en-
tered the kitchen, which communicated, and
presently came upon square room filled with
| SluOhS IiOl1 u VI S,lCCl piAiO AO6o' AAs
doors and windows were tightly fastened
the only air came in through tho large
throated chimney in voluminous gusts
which seemed to make the hollow shell of the
apartment swell and expand to the point Of
bursting. Despite the singing of the resin
GUS smoke, the temperature was grateful te
the benumbed travellers. Several cushionles'
arm chairs, such as were used in barrooms
two tables, q sideboard, half bar and hall
cupboard, and a rocking chair comprised tht
furniture, and a few bear and buffalo skin!
covered the floor. Hale sank into one of tht
arm chairs, and, with a lazy satisfaction
partly born Of his fatigue and partly from
some newly discovered eppreciative faculty
| gazed around the room, and then at the mis-
tress of the house, with whom the others wer'
talking.
a